Motor-sled unit



Jan.9,1923. 1,441,62, F. Z l IVI M ER.

MOTQR SLED UNIT.

FILED SEPT. l?. 1920.

ATTORNEY Patented dan. 9, 1922i.

tal it il n dit. ai. im te.)

y Moron-snm) UNIT.'

Application led September To all fwltofmrz't mag] concern Be it lrnownthat I, FRANK ZIMMER, citi- Zen of the United States, residing atMiddlebur-gh, in the county of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in MotoreSled Units, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to` a motor sled unit adaptable for use inconnection with-conventional automobiles and motor trucks to supplantthe ordinary drive wheels thereof when they are used on icy or snowysurfaces.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a motor sled unitwhich comprises in combination a series o'findependent propollingmembers operablesoas to be moved in connection with the surface uponwhich the vehicle is traveling7 inrotation and be given a sutlicientthrust while in Contact with said surfaceso as to cause the properpropelling of the vehicle!y Various other objects'` and advantages of myinvention will become apparent during the continuance of the followingdescription.

ln the drawings: c

Figure 1 isa view in sideelevation of my invention in its preferredembodiment, the same being` shown in connection with a portion of thechassis and driving mechanism of an automobile of conventional type.

Figure 2 is a view in top plan of my invention shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side view of the sled unit without thepropellingmechanism.

Figure e is a detail view of one of the propelling devices.

igure 5 is a view similar to Figure it showing the position of thepropelling device when the same receives the propelling thrusts from thedriving mechanism of the machine.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4t and Figure 5 showing `thepropelling device linishing its propelling strokes. y

For purposes of illustration I have shown in the accompanying drawingspart of the chassis of an automobile of conventional construction, asindicated byl the numeral l() a universal joint 11 of the dri ing mechanism of an automobile and a transmission 12. l-lowever.y this particularconstruction is shown merely for purposes of illustration and I do notwish to limitmy invention in anyway to this specific application.1`---The sled unit of my invention consists generally of a body member13 carried upon of Schoharie and State `of transverse members 21.

17, 1920. 'serial no. 410,850.

the runner membersl/l by means of rigid supports 15. Transverse holsters16 connect certain of the supports v and supportthe mechanism carryingframe 17 by means of expansion springs `18. Other springs 19 areinterposed between the carrying frame 17 and thev body! portion 13 ofthe sled unit. rlhis construction provides a yieldable support for themechanism carrying frame `17 so that the linoclis and jars received bythe runners 14 and the body 13 incident to travel over an unevensurfacewill not be imparted to the frame 17 nor the mechanism carried thereby.

The frame 13 consists of longitudinal members 2O connected at theirends'by means Other spaced longitudinal portion members 22 are carriedby the transverse member 21 and are arranged preferably in the positionshown in Figure 2of the drawings. l do not wish to limit myself to thespecific materialused in the construction of the frame 17 or any partthereof. i. 4

Alined bearings 23 and 24e are carried by the longitudinal members 2Oand 22 4respectively of the `frame 17 near the rear end thereof andrece-ive a transverse shaft 25. That portion of the shaft `25 betweenthel longitudinal members 22 of the frame extendsy through thetransmission casing 12 and is directly connected with the drivingmechanism of the automobile. On the other hand, that portion of theshaftwhich ei;- t-ends through the longitudinal members 22 and -is formedthrough `aseries of cranks 26, 27 and 28, the same extending atdifferent angles from the shaft rand being adapted to carrycertainmembers, as will be hereinafter fully described.

Other alined bearings 29 and 30 are carried upon the longitudinalmembers 2() and 22 respectively of the frame 17 and are adapted toreceive certain portions of a shaft 3l.. These bearings 29 and 30 areadjustable .longitudinally with` respect to the frame as shown in Figure2 so that the dista-nce from the shaft may be properly regulated whenthe mechanism of the device is to be operated. The adjustment lof theshaft and bearings may be retained by providing the longitudinal members20 and 22 with longitudinal slots 32 and providing the bearings 29 and30 with adjustable bear` ino members 33.

he shafts 25 and 31 are provided with imy travel the sprockets 36 alinedsprocket Wheels 3l and 35 over which and 37. By this arrangement motionis imparted trom the shaft 25 to the shaft 31 when the former is inoperation.

That portion of the shaft 3l that extends between the longitudinalmembers 22 and 2O is also provided with; crank portions 38, 39 and 40,the purpose ot which Will be hereinatter fully described..

The crank portions 267 2 and 28 of the sha-tt 25 have pivotallv mountedlthereon suitably curved propelling` ar is 4 1 which carry at theirlovver ends surface engagingl feet 4t2 and at their upper ends areconnected with operating rods 43. rlhe other end of the operating` rode3 is connected with the crank portions 3S, 39 and .4.0 `o'l the shaft3l so that upon rotation ol' the shalt 3l the rods will 'impartrocking;` motion to the propelling arms al..

`Wheii the shatt 25 is rotated the crank portions 26., 27 and 28thereof4 cause a raising and loweringv of the respective propelling`arms ell bringing;` the same in successive en- `.gagenient with thesurface upon which the sled unit is traveling. itt the same time? thesprockets 36 and 37 impart rotation to the shalt 3l causing the rods 43to be operated in succession and as each propelling arm ll becomes inengagement with the surface upon which the sled is passing` it will4 berocked so that the 'toot 42 thereotwill be zgiven a thrust on thesurface such ivill propelthe sledl forward. In otlierivords, While theshaft 25 raises and lowers spective Jfeet 4:2 into andout oit engagementwith the surface upon vwhich the sled is tablished. the sli-att 31 andthe iod e3 cause a rocking olf the arm 4l as the feet l2 there-y otbecome engaged With the surface so as to cause the propellingv ot' thesled unit.

Under certain circumstances, it is found to be advisable to providecertain means to take up the shook incident to the engagement ot thei'eet 42 with the ground surface and iu this connection l have shown inFieures t shaft 25, the

iuineao 5 and 6 certain modified Aorms ogt propelling` arms. ln theseiigures the arms il are can 'fied upon other supplemental arms l asshown at L25, the arms el being carried on the crank portions 27 and 23of the crank portions being@r received through openings e6 therein. ThesupplementalI arms lle, are in turn pivotally connected as at l? withthe operating` rod a3. The supplemental. arms il further carry slidablymounted pinsll Which also entend through openings inl the upper end otthe arms lll. Each end ot the pins' e8 is provided With i stops ivliilean extension spring` 5l is interposed between one of, the stops tlandthe arm ll as clearly Figures il, 5 and 6. yllhis construction providesfor bringing the armsll 'vieldabl57 in engagement with the groundsurtaoe and at the same time yieldably rockingl the same upon the cranksQ6, 27 and 28.

Vihat is claimed is:

il motor sled unit comprising a sled inember. a longitudiuallj,vextending1 platform arranged horizontally between the top ot the. sledand the runners thereof, expansion springs ifieldably supporting thesaid `plat- 'torni` and arranged 'above and beloiv the saine, a stoppershaft extending transverseltT ot one end ofthe platform, a crank shaftexten lin te"lti'answersely -ol' pl. torni and in parallelism with thesteppershatt. Steppers pivotally mounted on the stepper shalt andhaving' operative connections ivith the cranks of the driving connectionbetween the crank and the stepper shaft, and bearings at'each end of theplattorm 'for supporting the said shaft, said bearings beingrelativeljy7 adjustable longitudinally o't the platform.

lu testimoniT whereof l allix my signature in presence of tivoWitnesses.

FRANK Zjllvllillilll.

Witnesses:

WALTER Brass, LYMAN Dinner-suon.

shown in,

lthe other end of the y crank shaft. a'

